Grading-machine.



S. W. BLEVINS.

GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. e, 1013.

1,1 20,1 '79. Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

5 SHEBTSSHEET 1.

Attorneys S. W. BLEVINS.

GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. s, 1913.

1 1 20, 1 79, Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

5 SHEETSSHBET 2.

Attorneys S. W. BLEVINS.

GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED D1106, 1913.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Witnesses Attorney S. W. BLEVINS.

APPLICATION FILED DBU.6,1913.

RADING MACHINE.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

5 SEEBTSSHEET 4.

Witnesses Attorneys S. W. BLEVINS.

GRADING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED D1106, 191s.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

6 SHEETSSHBBT 5.

Witnesses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL W. BLEVINS, OF COOPER, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO COOPER ROAD MACHINE ('20., 0F COOPER, TEXAS.

GRADING-MACHINE.

macaw.

Application filed December 6, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL W. BLEVINB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cooper, in the county of Delta and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Grading-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to grading machines particularly designed for use in building roads, although it is to be understood that the same can be employed for various other purposes.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide soil engaging elements arranged in an endless series extended laterally or obliquely beyond one side of the main structure of the machine, means being provided whereby the said soil engaging elements can be adjusted angularly either horizontall or vertically thereby to bring them into desired relation to the surface of the soil and to the main supporting structure.

Another object is to provide means whereby the soil engaging elements can be actuated in any positions to which they may be adjusted and during such adjustment.

A further object is to provide means whereby the soil engaging elements can be raised and lowered bodily relative to the soil and whereby they can be shifted into or out of active positions beyond one side of the main supporting structure.

A further object is to provide soil engaging elements so shaped as to eliminate back drag upon the chain or other flexible structure carrying them, thus to prevent the said carrying chain from becoming distorted or breaking under the transverse strains to which it might be subjected during the actuation of the machine.

A further object is to provide a machine of this character utilizing cutting and scraping elements, the cutting elements being disposed in advance of the scraping elements and being adapted to loosen the soil while the scraping elements are adapted to gather the loose soil and drag it laterally into position under the main supporting structure.

A further object is to provide a machine of this character which will not only 0 erate to properly grade a road or the ike,

but can also be used for forming ditches along the sides of the road and for removing or trimming banks.

With the foregoing and other objects in Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

Serial No. 805,151.

new \VlllCll will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and cla med, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the in vcntlon herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the pre ferred forms of the invention have been shown.

In said drawings :-Figure l is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a section on line A-B Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine, the soil engaging elements being shown adjusted to extend obliquely beyond one side of the main supporting structure. Fig. 4 is a section through the turntable on the line CD Fig. 3 and showing the means employed for shifting one of the soil engaging structures angularly in a vertical plane. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section through the turntable on the line E-F Fig. 3 and showing the means provided for shifting one of the soil engaging structures horizontally relative to the turntable and main supportin structure. Fig. 6 is a section on line G- Fig. 1, said section being on an enlarged scale. Fig. 7 is a section on line IJ Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a section on line KL Fig. 2, this section being on an enlarged scale. Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of the cutting blades and the adjacent portion of its supporting chain. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of another chain. Fig. 11 is an edge view of the blade shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a digging element designed to be used in connection with the blade shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a portion of a scraping-blade. Fig. 14 is a side elevation of one of the soil engaging structures and showing a guide whereby the soil engaging elements are conveyed along lines to produce a ditch. Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing amodified form of machine. Fig. 16 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 15.

Referring tothe figures by characters of reference 1 designates a wheel supported main structure which, in the present instance, includes a frame made up of side angle beams 2 and intermediate cross angle beams 3. This frame can either be a part of on the flange 5.

platform.

Secured to and between the beams 2 and 3 is a ring 4 having an outstanding annular flange 5 at its upper edge. This ring serves to support another rin 6 having'an outstanding annular flange at its upper edge as shownat 7, the ring 6 fitting within the ring 4 and the flan e 7 bearing downwardly order that the ring 6 may be prevented from lifting up out of the ring 4, a retaining ring 8 is bolted or, otherwise secured, tothe lower edge of the ring 6 and extends-underthe lower edge of the ring4. A circular platform 9 is carried by the" ring 6, this ring and platform thus formingaiturntable- Gear teeth are formed upon the inner surface of the ring 4, as

shownfatlmandare engaged by a gear 11- secured; to the lower end of, a shaft 12 which, as shown in Fig. 2, extends upwardly through the platform 9 andis provided with a hand wheel 13 or the like whereby it can a slot 14 in the ring 6 as shown in Fig. 2.

Thus it will be seen that when the shaft 12 is rotated, gear 11 will travel along the teeth 10 within the ring 4, thus causing the turntable to rotate upon the ring 4.

. Secured to the retaining ring 8S0 as to rotate with the turntable, are parallel guide beams 15 and 16- respectively, these beams being spaced apart a distance slightly less than the diameter of the turntable and each beam having its sides converging upwardly, as shown in Fig.1. The beams extend be yond the turntable and beam 15 is engaged by a slidable'carriage 17 while the beam 16 is engaged by a slidable carriage 18. The two carriages are of the same construction and each of them has a longitudinally extending shaft 19 journaled thereon, this shaft having its rear portion squared, as

shown at 20 and extending slidably through a gear 21 which is supported by the shaft within a bracket 22 depending from the ring 6. Shaft 19 has inner and outer worms 23 and 24 respectively which rotate therewith, the worm 23 engaging a worm gear 25 which is supported by the carriage while the worm 24 engages a worm gear 26 likewise supported by the carriage. Pivotally connected to the carriage 18 so-as to swing about the axis of the gear 26 are angular. frame members 27 having depending arms 28 which are parallel and which are preferably connected together by a rod 29 which extends through the gear 26 thus to insure against independent movement of the frame members 27 and the gear 26. In other words, by arranging the parts in the manner.

niaaiae The a 28 in the of tubes in which rac 86 are adapted to slide, the

teeth on e racks being engaged hy-gearsfi which are secured to the end portions of a transverse shaft 32 journaled in .the arms 28. One end of shaft 32 can be angular, as shown at 33, so as to be engaged b a crank or other device whereby the'sha can'he rotated readily for the purpose of raising or lowering the racks 30 relafive to the arms 28. The racks have seriesofapertures 34 therein adapted to be brought into register with apertures 35 in the tubular arms 28 and holding pins 86 maybe inserted into the registering opes, thus to secure the racks against movement relative to the arms '28. A crank for use in rotating the shaft 32 has been shown at 37 in Fig. 2.

Arms 38 similar to the arms 28 are secure to the inner portion of the carriage 18 and to the gear '25 so as to rotate with this gear and these arms 38 have racks 39 similar to the racks30 and which are adjustable in the same manner as said racks 30.

be rotated readily. Gear ll'extends through i, I

0f the .racks- 39 and has sprockets 41 on which are mounted endless chains 42, these chains extending oversprockets43 mounted on a shaft 44 which is supported by the A shaft 4041s journaled in the lower ends {racks 30. Chain 42 is made up of links ,45 arranged in pairs and lapping and pivotally connected to interposed blocks 46, the pivot pins 47 which serve to connect the blocks and links,being projected beyond the sides of the links 45 so as to constitute bearings for rollers 48. Each block 46 has a boss 49 outstanding from the center thereof and provided with a socket 50.

Hangers 51 extend downwardly from theshaft 44 and are disposed in pairs, each sprocket 43- being extended between the hangers of one pair, as shown in Fig. 8.

These hangers project, at their lower ends, from guide rails 52 having grooves 58 in their inner faces .and within which the roll ers 48 are adapted to travel. As shown in Fig. 14, the guides 52 can he provided with arcuate portions 54 concentric with the sprockets 43, these arcuate portions extend- I ing upwardly to and merging into straight guide portions 55 extending up to the sprockets 41. Thus it will be seen that the lower flights of the chains are held by the guides against upward movement while the machine 1s in operation. Instead of providing guides formed with arcuate portions such .as shown at 54, guides such as illustrated in Fig. 2 maybe utilized. In this figure each guide 52extends straight from the large sprocket to the small sprocket in back thereof and the front end of each guide is curved upwardly in front of the large sprocket, as shown at 57 and is concentric therewith. Where this form of guide is used rectl from one sprqcket to the other whereas w en a uide such as shown in Fig. 14 is provided, t e lower flight of the chain is extended along an indirect line for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

' Secured to the shaft 40 is a gear 58 which meshes with asmall gear 59 secured to a shaft 60. This shaft is journaled within a yoke 61 mounted on shaft 40 and from which extends a tubular guide 62.' A tubular shaft section 63 is slidably mounted in the guide and is slidably mounted on the shaft 60, said shaft 60 being angular in cross sectional contour and fitting snugly within the shaft section 63 so that when said shaft section 63 is rotated, motion will be transmitted therefrom to the shaft 60. The shaft section 63 bears snugly within the guide 62 and sagging of the telescopic shaft made up of the sections 60 and 63 is thus prevented. Shaft section 63 is journaled at its upper end within a bracket or yoke 64 carried by a shaft 65 which is journaled in brackets 66 depending from the platform 9 of the turntable. A ar 67 is secured to the telescopic shaft sectlon 63 and meshes with a gear 68 secured to shaft 65. A sprocket 69 is secured to shaft 65 and receives motion, through a chain 7 0, from a sprocket 71 which is driven 80 by a motor 72 mounted on the turntable.

The arms 28 and 38 are constantly parallel and in order that they may be adjusted angularly about their respective axes, it is merely necessary to rotate the shaft 19 so that the worms 23 and 24 will rotate the respective gears 25 and 26 in unison. While the arms are thus being swung upwardly or downwardly, the shaft sections 60 and 63 will slide relative to each other so that the telescopic shaft formed thereby will thus be either elongated or shortened. Rotation of shaft 19 is effected by means of a gear 73 secured to the lower end of an upwardly extendin shaft 74 which is carried by the turnta 1e and is rovided with a handle 75 or the like whereby it can be rotated.

The slidable carriage 17 is provided with angular frame members 76 which are similar to the frame members 27 with the exception that their parallel arms 77 are much closer together than are the arms 28. These arms 77 are connected by a cross rod 78 which passes through the gear 26 so as to insure movement 0 the frame members with the ear.

g The racks 79 which are slidably mounted in the arms 77 and are adjustable in the same manner as are the racks 30, su port, at their lower ends, a shaft 80. This s aft has 60 large sprockets 81 and 82 secured thereto.

Pivotally connected to the inner portion of the carriage 17 are frame members 83 similar to the frame members 76, these frame membars 83 being adapted to rotate with the 65 gear 25 and being connected thereto in the same manner as the arms 38. are connected to the other gear 25.--.These frame members 83 have racks 84 slidablyoonnected thereto, these racks being mounted in the same manner as are the'racks 39 and carrying, at their lower ends, a shaft 85 on one end portion of which is mounted a yoke 86 similar to yoke 61. A gear 87 is secured to shaft 85 and within yoke 86 and meshes with a gear 88 secured to the lower end portion of a telescopic shaft 89 which is similar to the shaft 63 hereinbefore described. The upper end of the telescopic shaft 89 is journaled in a yoke 90 supported by shaft and a gear 91 is secured to the upper end of shaft 89 and meshes with a gear 92 secured to shaft 65. Thus it will be seen that when shaft 65 is rotatedythe two shafts 60-63 and 89 will be rotated together and will operate to drive the shafts 40 and 85 at the same speed.

Shaft 85 has small sprockets 93 secured thereto, these sprockets engaging endless chains 94 and 95 respectively which engage the sprockets 81 and 82 res ectively. Hangers 96 extend downwardly from the shaft 80 and carry guides of the same type as those hereinbefore described "and which have been illustrated at 56 and 57 in Fig. 2 and at 54 and 55 in Fig. 14. In other words, when the form of guide shown in Fig. 2 is used inconnection with the shaft 44, the same t pe of ide is used in connection with s aft 80 ut, should the guide shown in Fig. 14 be substituted for that shown in Fig. 2, the same kind of a ide will be used in connection with the c ains 94 and 95. These chains 94 and 95 are of the same construction as that shown in detail in Fig. 9, each including links 97 arranged in pairs and lapping and pivotally connected to interposed blocks 98 rovided with bosses 99 in which are forme sockets 100. Rollers 101 are mounted on the pivot pins 102 which extend through the blocks and links, these rollers being adapted to travel in the guides provided therefor.

The sockets 100 in the chain 94 are adapted to receive cutting blades or teeth 103 which, as shown in Figs. 9 and 11, are pointed and slightly curved, each tooth bein slightly twlsted so that the side faces of t e tooth extend obliquely across the boss 99. v

The sockets in chain 95 and which are similar to the sockets 100v receive small plows 104, one of which has been shown in detail in Fig. 12. Each plow has its sides diverging outwardly and its free end portion curved up to a straight edge 105 which is parallel with the pivots of the chain. 1

The sockets 50 carried by the bosses 49 are adapted to receive shanks 106 extending from the end portions of scraping blades 107, these blades extending across the chains carried by the sprockets 43 and serving to connect the same. Each blade'willsof course be provided with anintermediate shank 106 for extending into one of the sockets in the intermediate I chain 42.

Each carriage 17 and 18 has gearteeth.

108 formed along the inner side thereof and each guide beam 15 and 16 has a gee-r109 therein meshing with the teeth 108 and also with a gear 110 secured to an upwardly extending shaft 111. This shaft is provided .111 is rotated, the carriage upon the guide beam adjacent thereto will be shifted longit'udinally in either direction desired, thus to project the carriage beyondone side of the mainsupporting structure or to retract it back to position under the turntable.

The machine herein described-is adapted to be propelled in any suitable manner. Whenit is employed for cutting or scraping extremely soft soil or sand, the guide beams 15 and 16 can be extended at right angles to the path of movement of the machine and, by means of the shaft 111, the carriages 17 and 18 can be" shifted outwardly to any desired distances beyond one side of the machine. 1 -Where' ordinary grading is to be done a guide such 'as shown at 52 in Fig. 2 is employed in connection with each chain a'ndthe racks 34:, 39, 79 and 84 are adjusted longitudinally so as to support the various chains at desired distances om the gears 26 and 25. This adjustment willalso bring the lower flights of the chains at desired angles to the horizontal.

The gears 25 and 26 upon the two, carriages are rotated by means of the mechanisms provided therefor so as to support the various chains out of contact with the ground,- and, after the machine has-been brought to position where the grading is to in the building of a road, the .dirt will be scraped from the sides of the road and drawn toward the center thereof. Upward yielding of the chains while in operation is prevented by the guides provided therefor. Obviously by utilizing a guide such .as shown in Fig. 14:, the soil engaging devices carried by the chains will operate not only "attains to --produce the proper pitches or crown to thev road being. "constructed". but will also produce a ditch or gutter along the side of the 'road. z 3

When the machineis acting-:upon hard soil it is not practical to-have thechains extending at right angles to the path'of movement 'but, instead,it isnece'ssaryto swing them rearwardly sothat' they extend obliquely to the path of movement as shown for example in Fig. 3. Thusas the machine moves forward, the soil engaging ele- .ments will be pulled forwardly against the soil "and the tendency of brealn'ng 05 said elements is thusreduced;

Importance is attached to the fact that the cutting teeth 103 are obliquely disposed relative to their'bosses 99; With this arquickly raised and lowered out of and into contact with the soil, this last adjustment being efi'ected by rotating the gears 25 and 26. lit will be noted, furthermore, that by providing the adjustable connections between the various depending tubular arms 28, 38, 77 and 83, the chains can be raised at any desired angles to the surface of the soil so as thus to producea desiredcrown upon the road. Furthermore by elevating the outer portions of the chains the mechanism'can be used efiiciently for trimming down banks along a road.

When the machine is not in use the carriages 17 and 18 can be adjusted to positions close to one side of the machine and the various chains can be swung upwardly out of engagement withthe soil and, when this elevated, will not project undesirable distances'beyond the sides of the main supporting structure. Consequently, the machine can' then be conveniently transporte'd from place to place. w

' In Figs. 15 and 16a modified form of machine has been illustrated. This ma chine utilizes the same means as has already rte which are not capable of swinging as are the guide rails or beams 15 and 16. These guide rails or beams 114 are engaged by slides 115 extending from the sides of a movable. platform 116 to which the turntable 117 is connected, this turntable bein supported 'under the platform and .hel

thereto by, a pivot member 118 shown in Fig. 15.. The motor 119\ is carried by the turntableand motion is transmitted therefrom through',a ,sproc ket 120. and a" chain 121 to a sprocket 122 secured to a shaft 123 carriedby the turntable and which, in turn, transmits'motionthrough gears 124 and 1&5 to thechain actuating shafts. ,The means forswingingthe chain supporting arms 126 includes wormgears or segmen S127 engaging. worms 128' carried by sha 129 which maybe: rotated in any suitable manner, as

bygneanspf achain 13d ,engagi-ng sprockets 131 and 13%, there being a handwheel 133 onthe like orrotatingsprocketlwl These parts are all carried-by the turntable;

The, structure. difl'ers imm that previoysly described primarily in ,that thecarses l a'p nnet-be .-adjusted forwardlyindependently 913 each rother. In. the, prefenred,.structu,re.herein described,- ,-this independent adjustment otthe carriages 17 and 18 can be effected so thatdt thus 1s possible temove the chains 94; and 95 greater or lesser distances beyond the: sides of the main supporting structure than the chains on-the, sprockets 43.

Whatds. claimed is:- 1 m,

1. A ,grading machine including a main supportin lstructure, a turntable carried theneby,;e ementssuspended from the turntable, means for simultaneously swinging said. elements, an endless series of. soil engaging .devices carried by said elements, means carried by. the turntable fen actuatingpsaidseries of devices independently of said swinging movement of. the elements anda slidable connection between said elements and the turntable.

2-. A,grading machine including a main supporting structure, a turntable carried thereby, parallel telescopic elements suspended from the turntable, means for simultaneously swinging said elements, an endless chain supported .by the elements, soil'engaging'devioes carried by the chain,:means carried by the turntable for actuating the chain independently of said swinging movement of the telescopic elements, and a slidable connection between said elements and the turntable. Y

3. A .grading machine, including a main supporting. structure, a turntablev carried thereby, a member slidable on the turntable paralleltelescopic elements suspended from the saidlmember, means for simultaneously swinging said elements, an endless chain supported by the elements, soil engaging devices carried by the chain, means carried by the turntable for actuating the chain independently of said swinging movement of the telescopic elements, and means for shifting said shdable member horizontally relative to the turntable.

4. A grading hine including a main supporting strudi fc, a turntable carried thereby, parallel telescopic elements suspended from the turntable, means for simultaneously swingin said elements, an endless chain supporter? by the elements, soil engaging devices carried by the chain, means carried by the turntable for actuating the chain inde endently of said swinging movement of t e telescopic elements, said elements being slidable horizontally relative to the main supporting structure.

5. A grading machine including a main supporting structure, a turntable carried thereby, longitudinally adjustable elements disposed in pairs and extended from the turntable, an endless series of soil loosening devices supported by one pair of elements, an endless'series of soil scraping devices carried by the other pair of elements, said devices being movable along lines intersecting the path of movement of the main supporting structure, and means for independently ad usting said series of soil engaging devices angularly in vertical planes. 6. A grading machine including a main supporting structure, a turntable carried thereby, longitudinally adjustable elements disposed in pairs and extended from the turntable, an endless series of soil loosening devices supported by one pair of elements, an endless series of soil scrapingdevices carried by the other pair of elements, said devices being movable along lines intersecting the path of movement of the main su porting structure, and means for independently swinging said series of soil engaging devices bodily in vertical planes.

7. A grading machine including a main supporting structure, a turntable carried thereby, longitudinally adjustable elements disposed in pairs and extended from the turntable, an endless series of soil loosening devices supported by one pair of elements, an endless series of soil scraping devices carried by the other pair of elements, said de-. vices being movable along lines intersecting the path of movement of the main supporting structure, means for independently swinging said series of soil engaging devices bodily in vertical planes, and means for simultaneously actuating the soil engaging devices inde endently of said adjustment.

8. A gra ing machine including a main supporting structure, a turntable carried thereby, longitudinally adjustable elements disposed in pairs and extended from the turntable, an endless series of soil loosening devices supported by one pair of elemenm,

iso

, an endless series of soil scraping devices carried by the other pair of elements, said devicesbeing movable alon lines intersecting the path ofrnovement o the main supporting structure, means for independently u 1 g said seriesof soil engaging devices bodily in vertical planes, and means for horizontally adjust ng all'df the soil engaging devices bodily and in'imison.

9. A- grading machine including a 'main supporting structure, a turntable carried thereby, longitudinally adju stable elements disposed in pairs and extended from the turntable, an endless series of soil loosening devices supported by one pair of elements, an endless series of soil scraping devices carriedvby the'other pair of elements, said devices being movable along lines intersecting the path of movement of the main supporting structure, means for independently 4 swinging said series of soil engaging devices bodily in verh'cal planes, all of said soil endeviccs being constantly movable along arallel paths.

10. gra machine including a main -s|1ppo1as|;g structure, a turntable thereon,

separate endless series of soil engaging devices suspended from and movable with the turntable, means for independently swinging said series of soil engaging devices upwardly' and downwardly relative to the turntable and. without changing their angles to the surface of the soil, and means for independently adjush'ng said series of soil enga devices to change their angles relative to the surface of the soil.

11. A gra a 1 including a main supporting structure, a turntable thereon, separate endless series of soil en'ga devices suspended fiom and movable with the turntable, means for independently swinging said series of soil engaging devices upwardly and downwardly relative to the turntable and without changing their angles to the surface of thpsoil, andmeans for independently adjustrugsaid series of soil engaging devices horizontallyrelative to the turntable. W

12. In a n; machine, the combina- 'on with, a main supporting structure, of

tubular arms adjustably connected thereto and depen therefrom, racks slidably mounted in the arms, means for adjusting the racks relative to the arms, means for holding the rack against movement relative to the arms, shafts carried by the racks,

sprockets upon the shafts, an endless chain.

supported by the sprockets, and soil engage ing devices.

13. In a grading machine, outer and innerpairs of tubular arms, a shaft journaled in the arms of each pair and carrying gears, a rackslidahly mounted in each arm and enged by the adjacent gear, means for boldmg the rachs against movement relative to of arms aaaaare the arms and chains supported by theracks,

and soil engaging devices carned by the.

chains, said racks being independently adjustable relative to their arms.

14. In a gradingmachine, the combination with a supporting structure, of gears, a pair of arms connected to and revoluble with each gear, means for simultaneously rotating the two gears, an endless chain, soil engaging devices carried thereby, and independently adjustable connections between the chain and the arms of the respective Pairs,

15.111, a tiouwith a supporting-structure, of gears, a

grading raachi .ne, the combinapair of arms connected to and revoluble with each 'gean'means for simultaneously" rotating the two gears, an endless chain, soil engaging devices carried thereby, racks" engagin the arms the racks of each pair hein adjuhtable together and independently 0 chain carried by the racks, an soil engaging devices upon the chain.

16. In a grag machine, the combination with a supporting structure, and gears mounted for rotation, of means for simultaneously rotating the gears, an endless chain, and separate adjustable connections between opposite-portions of the chain and I the respective gears, said connections being adapted to rotate with the gears thereby to bodily raise and lower the chain.

17. In a gradin machine, the combina-' tion with outer an inner sprockets, an endless chain mounted thereon, and soil engaging devices carried by the chain, of a supporting structure, independently adjust able connections between the said structure and the respective sprockets, and means for simultaneously swinging said connections to bodily raise or lower the chain withoutchanging its angle to the surface of the soil.-

18. Ina gradlng maehi'ne the combination nected to the carriage.

19. A grading machine including a main supporting structure, an endless series of soil loosening devices movable along lines intersecting the path of movement of the main supportingstructure, an endless series of scrapers back or said soil looseg the other racks an endless devices for engag the loosened soil and 1th scraping it along lines intersecting the path of movement of the main supporting structure and into position under said structure, and means for independently adjusting the soil loosening devices and the scrapers horizontally relative to the main supporting structure.

20. In a grading machine, an endless chain having sockets, teeth detachably mounted in the sockets and having their side faces disposed obliquely to the path of movement of the chain, said faces converging toward the advancing side of the chain, a main supporting structure, and connections between said structure and the chain, the said chain being movable in a path intersecting the path of movement of the main supporting structure.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereunto affixed my sig nature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL W. BLEVINS.

Witnesses:

SELINA WILLSON, I. E. SIMPSON. 

